Warning over entitlements lawsuits

Retired farmers who spend the spring months overseas are among those most likely to sue the Department of Agriculture for hundreds of thousands of euro in lost entitlements to single farm payments, says Co Cork auctioneer Liam Mullins.

The Mallow-based estate agent said he believes many elderly farmers are unaware that midnight last night was the deadline for submission of transfer of entitlements forms relating to lands they have leased out.

For the landowner to retain rights to the EU payments, both landowner and lessee had to sign an agreement to terminate lease of entitlements form, countersigned by either a solicitor or a Teagasc adviser.